Valve



R. wELcKER Dec. 29, 1931.

VALVE Filed sept. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet A TToRNYs.

Dec. 29, 1931. R. wELcKER 1,838,723

VALVE Filed Sept. 9, 1929 4 SheeS-Sheet 2 A TTORNE YS.

v29, 1931. R. wELcKER 1,338,723

VALVE Filed Sept. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS( Dec.29,1931. Rw EEEE ER.` 1,838,723

iff/T Patented Dec. 29,Y `1931 i -I 'U l'i vParnu-r oFrice mnoonrn WELcKnn, or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNoa or .o NaFoURTH .To FRANKLIN le. NEAL, o F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS VALVE Application filed September This invention relates to .an improved valve for water, air, steannand' all liquid or gaseous fluids. l will describe its simplest 'form as a Water 4pipe valve. The same struc,-

5 ture is fundamentally applicable .to bothliquid and gas lines.

My valve is ope-rated from the energy inl valves, and particularly in a valve like that,

to be described.

According to one feature of my invention 29' l malte a power operable valve thatis vcomparable in costV to a. hand operable valve, to a globe valve for enample. The idea is 'to place my power operable valve in the competitive field with valves of the `lowest cost types, as globe valves, gate valves, vand other well lrnovvn types, and through the same size from smallest to largest. Because of the operating principles of the new valve that -can now be used in the same cost lleid, 3G the users will' get tlie advaijitages of an instanta-neous operation, of automatically avoiding` `Water hammer, of an automatic closure in case of excessive pipe line velocity,

a linger tip control, of an easily maintained 'U5 tight sealing means, of the absence of packing, of a valve seat adjustable `from Without the valve casino` of easilv re laceablo valveV seats, and other advantages `which willY ap'- pear. i Y

.Another feature of the invention is the means by which my .valve parts economize space so as to male it feasible lto place my valve `in pipe lines at placesA 'where prior valves could not befreadily accommodated.

This feature hasutility also in the appear` anceo the valve,.the avoidance of radialprotrading material on pipe lmes,in getting the valvebelowptlierostline in buried i ielines I andlinotlienvvays.Whichiwill appear. A h C@ `Toefiect many objects 0f ,the inventor,

e, 1929. seriai Np. 391,344.

some ot which arerelated to one another and some not, I have constructed the yalve in a special Way toxel-iminate friction in its op: erating mechanism so as to make it ,extremely sensitive tothe operable changes in the pipe energy. i

An additional and important feature of the invention is :found in Vthe -control means,V its structural setting, and its mode `ot operation, whereby the desired valve operations may beV selectively and automatically provided for. My control means, as I `will point out, is also arranged for mechanical connection to the valve parts for complete handoperation when desired, but this `arrangement is preferably made interlocking with the mechanical settingy for automatic vo lierating control. By the interlocking arrangementin the ,controll means the valve .cannot [be `operated by hand except when such `operation is aided and not opposed by any hydraulic forces due to the control valve setting. `Nor can the valve be operated ,by power in any Way to move the hand operating means. Thus, the same mechanism can be made interchangeably a hand or power operated valve, but never so that one type of operation can oppose the other. VThe power of selectionis available but not the Adanger of interference. In speaking of handoperation I mean to include any operation by energy from without the valve casing, as by a magnet remotely controlled. Such a.V device `may be a substitute for the ,hand `in working Athe valve or the easily operable control.n neansinV either of the two waysdescribed.

The above purposes .of my .invention will be clearer from the detailed description of, its

preferred embodiment. kFrom the latterzit will also be clear lthat the inventionis peculiarly available for usein specialengine'ering `designs forhydraulic lor gas valves of very large size. Ina real sense my valve parts are arranged for, automatic balancing operations which wipe out, by eXliausting,the destructive hydraulic or gas pressure forces in the work of operating the valve and this Y feature ,makes ithe valve applicable .with important engineering results in manylrspeeifal uses in power lines.

The drawings show a two-inch valve of my preferred construction, such as would be sold in stock sizes.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section taken centrally through the valve with all parts assembled. The control cock and aligned shaft are arranged in place vertically and shown in side elevation rather than in section. rIhe arrows in this view show the direction of the intended stream flow for the relative ports of the valve;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but with the parts aligned with the control cock shown in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 through the control cock, including its casing walls, to show the relation of its ports;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the control cock and its stem without its casing walls;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the control cock as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view with parts broken away and part in section to better show some of the valve mechanism. rlhis View in comparison with Fig. 1 shows the parts from a difference in angle of 90 degrees r from above with respect to Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 7 but with more of the valve casing shown and with the valve parts in closed instead of open position;

Fig. 8a is an end detail view of the plunger heads with parts removed;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the shaft aligned in the assembly with the control cock;

Fig. 10 is a top view of the same shaft;

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the shaft;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal cross section of the shaft;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the two rocker arm levers which pivot` on the shaft. The one shown is the upper of the two disclosed partly in section and pivoted on the shaft in Fig. 2;

Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are detail schematic. views indicating respectively the wide open, partially open, and full closed position for some of the valve parts; and

Figs. 17, 18, and 19 are schematic illustrations of various cock positions.

With reference to the drawingsa brief enumeration of the main functional members of the structure will be given first and then a detailed description of the individual members. Finally, the operation of the valve under various operating conditions and the advantages connected therewith will be discussed.

Structure The valve body or shell 1 has a terminal neck portion 7 at its upstream side and a terminal truncated portion 10 at its downstream side, the former interiorly and the latter teriorly screw threaded for the reception of the ends of the pipe line directly at the neck side and indirectly by means of an interposed neck assemblage at the truncated side with all parts so arranged that the valve fits between the pipe connections in coaxial alignment therewith and forms, as it were, a somewhat wider section of the line. lVithin the shell and concentric with it by means of axially disposed connecting ribs 3, 4l, 5, and (i a cylinder 2 is held at a distance from the inner shell wall so as to provide a sufficiently wide concentric fluid channel a between the two parts. About midway between the neck portions a round conduit diametrically piercing the shell and the cylinder walls is formed between bifurcated rib portions, as shown at 17 in Fig. 1 and at 32 in Fig. 2. The latter portion is conically widened and extends in a cup 18 on top of the valve body. ./ill portions, as described heretofore, are preferably made as a single casting except the interposed neck assembling at the downstream side.

The diametrical conduit serves as a bearing for a spindle 40 to which spindle two oppositely arranged cup-like pistons or plungers 11 and 12 are anchored. These plungers are axially movably guided within the cylinder 2 and s aled against iluid and pressure access to their interior by means of piston rings 18 so that an axially expansible and contractible chamber I) is obtained in the center of the valve body. As will be noted from the the drawings, these plungers have a peculiarly pointed form for reasons to be given later. lVhen expanded, their ei:- ternal surfaces are generally adapted to seal the seats of the valve in or near the neck portions; however, the anchorage of the pistons to the spindle is such that only the downstream piston 11 will seal tightly while the upstream piston 12 leaves a suiiicient leak between itself and the conforming neck portion to admit at all times an access of the full upstream pressure to the fluid channel in the valve.

A. cock 31 arranged in the upper portion of the diainetrical conduit permits, according to its position, communication of the chamber space 7o either with the iuid channel a or the downstream side of the valve through a narrow conduit C within the top rib f3. This conduit c opens into a narrow annular channel al near the downstream neck portion, which channel communicates with the downstream side beyond the valve seat through a number of eircuinferentially disposed holes e.

From the above general description of the main functional parts of the structure, it is apparent that various pressures can be transmitted to the chamber space and that these interior pressures in coaction with pressures acting upon the exterior'plungerffaces and varying under dilierent operating conditions.

may produce differential pressures for eX- panding or contracting the chamber or closing and opening the valve.

' A detailed description of the various mem-Y machining for a seat at this neck end is re.

quired. f V

rlhe downstream truncated valve vportion terminates in a face that is accurately machined in a plane normal to the aXis of the valve. Against this face the separate annular seat member 9 is pressed by means of the separate neck extension 13, which `latter is kept under axial thrust within avsleeve or bushing 14. In screwing this lbushing down on the valve body, all angular movement will be taken up by slip at the smooth contact faces 19 betweenjthe bushing and the neck and, thus, the seat member receives only axial pressures. rlhis arrangement is especially desirable in cases where the seat member consists of highly flexible material such as rubber which will easilystand comparatively high vpressures but would slider and become distorted under shearing forces. Preferably the seat has yielding, elastic i properties, such as certain rubber compositions oiler, in connection with other valuable qualities. li such a seat changes its form under prolonged operation of the valve, it can easily, be adjusted again from outside by urther tightening the bushing 14e by means of a wrench engaging a plurality of radially disposed ribs 15 on the bushing. Also, ir" it is desired to renew or replace the seat, the work involved with my structure 'does not require any disassembling of the valve or complete disconnecting from the pipe line. But insteachby unscrewing bushing 14 and pulling it a little backwards with thepipe nd, the annular seat can easily'be removed and replaced by lateral insertion. This eature of utility Iconsider of substantial im"` portance apart fromthe other features of the valve because it renders the proper maine tenance oit theV valve seat easy and inexpensive. The seat shown atY 9 has a small axial hole in one placerto receive a short bushing 2O connecting conduit between the downstream cock conduit c and the'annular chan- Vnel CZ with Vthe cored passagec.

The housing for the cock (see Figs. 2

and 3) is formed in a bifurcated portion 32V of the upperl rib 9. A slot shaped port j extending semi-peripherally at the upstream side o'this housing provides access from the fluid channel a to the cock 31, while. the

narrow cylindrical conduit@ forms a small round cock port at the downstream side. The cock has a central bore g (Figs. 3 and 5) and 'a radial bore L in communication with each other. Symmetric vwith bore 7L a segment 'i is cut from the cone. A sector of the lower taperedend of the cock cone (see also Fig. 6) is continued as a projecting lug 33.V

The .upper non-seated cock stem 30 merely serves to provide by its angular extension a suitable engagement for a handle. In order to hold the cock with proper pressure down initshousing, a spring washer is pressed against the shoulder 39 of the cock cone by` screwing down the bushing 36 within the threaded cup 18` by means oi' a wrench itting the upper angularend 37 of the bushing. rlhe whole assembly is then locked in position by the nut 3.8. ln this way, fluid isprevented from leaking past the cock while, according to the position orn the cock, pressures may readily be transmitted underneath the bottom face of the cock through its conduits L and g. These pressures would, eX- cept for my construction, cause the cock to leak. Whatever these pressures are I can tighten the cock to oppose them and at the same time maintain the easy operation of the cock. rlhis arrangement I believe to be entirely novel.

The spindle l0 also shown in various detached figures, 9 to l2, serves a plurality of purposes which are: first, the transmission oi pressure from the cock housing, that is, from underneath the cock to the central pressure chamber o of the valve as formed by the plungers and their common cylinder; second, to aiiord anzanchoring post for the plungers; third, to transmit manual forces applied to thecock to the anchoring links and thereby to the plungers -for operating the plungers by hand, if so desired.

he rst function, that is, the transmission of pressures from the cock housing, is performed by a central axial bore 41 (see Fig. 12) which pierces the whole length of the spindle. lThe spindle is journaled at its upper end in the lower portion of the cock housing and at its lower reduced end 42 in anenlarged portion 17 of the lower rib ll. l prefer to hold the spindle with a certain play in these two bearings. The pressures are transmitted through one or several radial holes, such as shown at 43 (Figsl) and 12), which holes communicate with the central bore of the spindle. In vertical direction, the position of the spindle is secured by a shoulder abutment 44 in its lower portion, which abutment extends only over two sector portions of the spindle (see Figs. 9 and 11), and thus leaves outlets between the sectors for pressures underneath the lower face of Ythe spindlevto escape past the bearing to the manufacture die lower spindle bearing is led through to the valve exterior and then sealed by means of a screw-threaded plug 45. t

is evident now that pressures underneath the coolhave no other chance but to escape the central chamber.

The plungers are anchored to the spindle in such a manner that any axial displacement ot one ot' the plungers produces by mechanical constrainment an equal axial displaceme 'L of the other plunger in the opposite direction or, in other words, the expansion and contraction of the chamber is bilateral and s junmetri with respect to a plane, i rinal to the valve axis where this axis in- .erseets the L 'ndle axis.

l is constrained joint displacement of the iiflnns'err is secured in the form shown by tta/ching the plungers to a double-arm lever 29 of equal arm extension", which lever may be .b f or non-rotatably mounted on the spinale. ln Figs. la, l5, and i6, the mechanl principle is schematically illustrated. the positions o1C the plungers in these figures are represented in the order of completely contracted, halt-expanded and completely e5:- panded cond'tion, corresponding to the valve e-open, half-open, and closed. s it appears from these ligures, the two rngers are )rovided with identical anchor- (each stud pr ferably inade in castingwith its plunger) which in a rccesser lug portion 51, the ng suillcienti*v wide to permit the J, 35 t this portion in the interior of the o posite ilunrfer in the contracted position l' 1" e fil Y Qblong holes 52 in the lugs f pins '3 integral with and project-ing lever which is only init is obvious that Y l'v otates about the axis o'l the si. O, he. plun'ers are constrained to per n along their common axis symmetric and opposite movements with respect to the The engagement between the l 'pins and the lugs is su'liiciently loose to prevent any jamming, and the oblong sha ie et Uhe lug holes provides for the neceslateral movement of the lever pins. As be seen by comparing le and Fig. i6, the total angle swept through by the lever n 'from completely contracted to con )l e y expanded relation of the plnngzgers amounts to about ninety degrees or, rein'cJred to zlhe middle p ion shown in Fig. l5 as Zero position, cor ete opening of the angular displacevalve co ment of the lever ot bout E5 degrees in one dfrection. andcomL4 closure to about -lt the opposite direction. These angular arrangements are shown for purpose oft illustration and ot eoursemay in other designs oit the same kind ot valve.

Though a single lever arm would answer the purpose of producing the desired constrained movement, I have shown a double lever arrangement oi: substantially identical levers, one arranged above the other and each registering with a pair oi' identical lugs because such an arrangement may exclude jamming. The double-arm levers used in my present design are shaped as shown in Fig. 13. The cast piece comprises the arm po tion 54 with two projecting pins 53 for engagement in the plunger lugs and a bearing in its center extended at one side of the arm in a longer sleeve 5G and at the other side in a shorter collar 57. @ne of the two levers employed in my structure has a circumferential groove 5S in its bearing surface, as can be seen in the upper lever 54C of cross-section Fig. 2. rthis groove communi- Cates with the exterior by means of a hole 5i) in the arm (F ig. 13). The previously mentioned radial hole i3 in the spindle is vertically so disposed as to open into the groove 58 whereby an unrestricted pressure conduit is created from the cock housing tollowing the axial spindle bore, the radial spindle hole, the groove, and the hole 59 in the lever arm 54e out into the cylinder space This upper lever arm 54 is rotatable about the spindle. However, the lower lever 55 (see F 2) is rigidly mounted or keyed on the spindle. At an intermediate portion i6 (see Figs. 9 and il) the spindle has been reduced by cutting oil two oppositely disposed segments et?, and the straight faces thus Yformed on the spindle loch the lever in lined relation to the spindle by snugly engaging cor esponding faces protruding from the bearing surface olf this lower lever arm.

T he spindle has at its 'upper end a protruding sector portion 48 like the one at the lower end of the cocl. After the spindle and the cock have been properly mounted in place, the sector portions of the cock and the spindle will be co-extensive in vertical direction and consequently cannot overlap in the plane of their common circle. But, it the cool:l is sui"- i'iciently turned one way or the other, the cock sector will finally engage the spindle sector by lateral abutment and thus impart a rotary displacement to the spindle one way or tue other with the eiiect that the lower lever arm turning with the spindle either expands or contracts the plungers in their relative position. in this way, it is possible to close and open the valve by turning the cock.

t will be noted from Fig. 2 that the two levers 54 and 55 are oppositely arranged with the pins of the lower lever upstanding and the pins of the upper lever depending. This disposition permits of a perfectly identical design for the two plungers and their anchoring studs. Figs. 7 and 8 show the arrangement in top plan view, the first figure ror completely contracted and the second for completely expanded condition.

ier

As can be seen from the left cross-sectioned plunger in Fig. 8, the anchoring studs are an extension Vof longitudinal reinforcement ribs inthe interior of and integral with the plunger.Y The Vintermediate portions 50 of the studs are ground down to adiameter that will provide a snug fit in the b ore of the'cylinder and thus assist in accurately guiding the plungers within the cylinder. The. terminal lug portions 51, due to their receding from the cylinder walls, are plunged in the interior of the oppositely'arrangedv piston when the pistons are contracted, as shown in Fig` 7. The relation ofthe anchoring studs in contracted position requires that the studs be circumferentially unevenly spaced. Viewed from the open plunger side, Fig. 8a shows in full lines the disposition of the studs in the plunger exposed to view, while the finely dotted lines indicate the position of the lugs of the other plunger back ofthe spectator if the two plungers are supposedy to be in their proper assembled relation.- The advantage of this arrangement is that the two plungers are identicalv in shape so that they can be cast in the same mold. 'One of the studs of each plunger has a small projecting rail portionl (Fig. 8a), the face of which may be machined so as toprovide an accurate sliding engagement between the two pistons. The necessity of making the holes 52 in: the lugs oblong in order to provide for the lateral movement of the pins 53 during their turn about the axis of the spindle has been pointed out already.

By making the stream plunger between wide-open and tightly closed position somewhatVV shorter than the distance which the constraining mechanism would allow, theupstream plunger is prevented from seating in the valve body and from interfering with a perfect closure of the downstream plunger. Y

As pointed out already, theV spindle is loosely journaled in its bearings, vand the play obtained thereby will assistin tightly sealing the valve, sinc-e the whole chamber structure will be displaceda little in the downstream direction, ifthis should be desirable, for instance, when the elastic seat has yielded somewhat under prolonged operation andl not been readj usted yet in the manner described above.

The employment of a separate seat element of elastic properties is a great advantage vof this valve structure over others where the seat must be accurately machined on the valve bodv itself, a work which is often very difficult and requires much precision with correspondingly high cost of labor. Inmost casesV suitable seat materials for di'erent fluids such as water, oil, saturated and superheated steam, various gases, etc. are avail-` complete travel of the downsimple formas compared to the machining of a complicated and heavy valve body is manifest.

Now that the structure has been described in considerable detail, it can be summarized fi A55. There is the spindle mounted transversely of the valve having its various" Vfeatures preferably in a single piece, as shown in Fig.

l2; There are the two substantially identical castings 54 and 55, making up the rocker arms, mounted on the spindle as a rocking supportand each having its ends pivotally connected, one to one of the plunger heads and one to the other plunger head, and with the respective connectionsreversely arranged asbetween the two rocker arms. VThese mechanical connections between the rocker arms Y vand plunger heads are kmade in quite a loose jointed manner to prevent binding and avoid friction. There is the control cock particularly situated with regard to its associated passages..

lt is believed that from the purely mechanical standpoint the mechanical-arrangements and possible movements will now be quite clear., If anything moves one of the plunger heads in one direction, the pivoted rocking arms andV theirconnections require the movement Vof the other plunger head in the `opposite direction.` The turning ofthe control cock may be made to, but does not necessarily, move the plunger heads one way or the other. The whole arrangement is 'generally symmetrical and balanced and, except for the verysmall control cock operating means,

nothing protrudes from that valve casing fore, requires but little time. In order` to Vassemble the valve,the two pistons are placed inthe position described inconnection with Fig. 8a, and theV pins of the two rocker levers are then inserted in thecorre'sponding lugs.

This preliminary assembling lends itself very readily for the introduction Vin the valve cyl-` inderfromthe downstream valve opening After theV proper angular relation with reyspectfto` the spindle axis has `been adjusted, the spindle is inserted through the cook housing. The assembling ot' the remaining parts comprises only obvious and quite common manipulations. By withdrawing the spindle from the valve, the pistons can be made to slide automatically out of the shell and, in this way, the valve will disassemble in its various parts without further manipulations.

The automatic operations ot my valve will now be described. It will be assumed that the closed valve is in a water pipe line under a hydraulic head, but it should be understood that its principles of operation would also apply in air, gas, or steam lines-that is, in liquids or gases, hot or cold.

To open the valve, I turn the control cock to the position shown in Fig. 18. This opens communication from the pressure space o (Fig. 1) through opening 59 (Fig. 13), groove 58 (Fig. 2), opening 43 in the spindle, bore .l1 (Fig. 12), passages g and 7L in the control cock, passage c in rib 3 (Fig. 1), groove cl, and openings c, to the low pressure side ofthe valve beyond valve seat 16. Such communication releases the pressure in space I) which has been holding the plunger heads towards their seats. Upon the release of this pressure, the hydraulic head presses plunger 12 to the right (Fig. 1) and plunger head 11 is pulled open, to the left.

As the water flows through the annular space between the valve casing 1 and pressure cylinder 2 and again comes to a solid stream beyond plunger nose 11, there is a suction tendency to pull plunger 11 closed. Since the direct pressure on plunger 12 has a greater force to push it open and it is connected to plunger 11 to move the latter in the opposite direction to plunger 12, the consequence is that plunger 11 is pulled open. Since both plungers must move together, one acts as a damper or check on the other in all operations, and the opening action. for example, is a gradual easy movement with a substantial result in checking water hammer action in the pipe line.

To close the valve, I turn the control cock into the position shown in Fig. 1'?. This makes communication directly from the stream iow to the pressure space Zi exactly as a Pitot tube would be used to connect a pressure space in measuring the velocity head of a stream flow. The pressure ot the velocity head is trapped in space exactly as it would be trapped in an expansible measuring instrument if one were measuring such head. But in my valve the presure in space due to the velocity head., instead ot being used for measuring is used to push plunger heads 11 and 12 towards their seats. My particular structural arrangement makes it possible to do this even with a much lower velocity head than would ordinarily be thought feasible.

It will be understood that my pressure valve is operated by manipulating and applying different pressures from different regions of the stream flow rather than by any reliance on differential areas ot the parts to which the pressures are applied. The latter is a rather common expedient in automatic valve operation, but is not used in the preterred form ot my valve. In my valve, for example, the parts like the plunger heads are preferably of equal area and substantial images `o't each other but differently arrang i so as to be exposed to different pressure regions. This feature, among other advantages, enables me to make the dian'leters et the plunger heads smaller than would otherwise be the case and the advantage is that they can be made the same size as the actual pipe line in diameter in which the valve is placed. This results in a small and lightweight valve in relation to the pipe line. The plunger head on the high side of the valve is subjected to quite dillerent pressure conditions than the one on the low side and it is this feature that causes the operation of one by the other.

By placing my control cock inlet between theV two pressure regions or preferably midway of the positions of the plungers and directly in the stream iow, I get these advantages. rI`he passage to the pressure chamber Z) is short. Y Fricton loss is minimized and the velocity head is made most eii'cctive while the passage is under control from without the casing by simple means and without any me chanical complications. I will nonffzxplain in connection with an intermediate setting of the control cock, the position ot the latter has special relation to one automatic operation ot the valve, which is an emergency operation.

It is desirable in many instances to have means in a pipe line which will keep it open forall normal velocities but which will stop thel stream flow entirely vlienever the felocity exceeds a critical figure. In my valve, this is provided tor by an intermediate setting ot the control cock in relation to the operating principles of the valve. For estample, the setting of the control cock shown in 19 will bring about the emergency closing ot the valve on a certain excessive velocity head, and so will other settings between that shown in Fig. 17 and Fig. 19. The setting of Fig. 19 is taken as an illustration at 450. In this position of the control cocl; with the other parts as shown in Fig. 1, the action is as follows: At all normal velocities below the critical one, determined by the particular control cock setting, the valve remains open. It so remains because the tull value et the velocity head. is not applied through the control cock to the pressure chamber Z). It it were. the valve would close. By reason ot the kind of setting shown in Fig. 19. a selected fraction only ot the full vf-xlocitj.7 head is applied through. the control cock to t pressure chamber. Such fraction def4weavesV termined by the angularity of the cock inlet port. llhen the angleV ot this entrance pasflow to one at an angle,;the velo-city impact is dei'initely decreased. rlhere. is then a chance tor the Water to slide byvvithout deliverinfr its full'blotvr on the entrance aassaffe.

The action might be imagined as the same kind as When loiv is applied in one direction against a plane inclined et jan angle to the direction of the blow. Y Thisprinciple of operation is quite a different one than iere the control passagefor the velocity ad pressure is throttle-d to change its value. latter is workable but in myV preferred orm et valve l emphasizethe di'erence in ninciple above described as one of the features of my control becausev its application has many advantages which l Will` not try to enumeratenow. Y

lNhen the control cock is thus set to take only a fraction of the velocity head value, it is true that the valve-remains open unless the velocity exceeds a critical amount, predetermined principally by the angle of setting. lt and when the velocityot the flow exceeds .this amount, thatV excess pressure which is traremitted to the pressure chamber is, in c function With the pressures on the exterior of the plunger heads, suiiicient to give the emergency closure for the particular setting.

ln mv description of the operation, itmay be thought that the force Which Yclosesthe valve is an increased torce Within the pressure chamber o due to the increased velocity head. But l do not believethis to be the case. And the `best explanation in hydrodyna is probably quite involved. VAd coi-ding to my understanding, there is in any pipe line With given hydraulic head a substantially const nt pressure Within spacej if my valve is inserted in that line since the sum of the static and velocity head must be equal. vThis so-called constant pressure in,

space .7) is changed only by chaagingthe set ting of the control cock. latter at tor example, from its position in Fi l, itmakes anew pressure value with in ce ZJ. l3nt for that setting other angular upstream setting), l conceive vthe pressure in space Z9 as'substantially conetant and its nneunt determined bythe angle. Whatev'erthe velocity in the line may be.

With a substantially constant pressure in space Z9, it is, according' to my'conception, the decrease in static head pressure on the outside of space upon an increase in ve-V locity causing a diminishing pressure on the exterior faces of the plunger headsLvvhich enables the pi aci-e Vin Z) to Close the valve as l have described it. 1ilihatever'the explanation may be, however, l have by trial found that the valve does closevvhenever the crit- So when I set theY ture, it remains closed under the above described action until the control valve is reset to open it.

The large advantage in the operation just ldescribedV is found in the safety feature.

lhen abnormal conditions ot high velocity start to operate- (asby a break in the pipe line on the low side), my valve, Which is Y normally used for opening .and closing the line, Will also act as a safety stop and Will keep the line closed until deliberately reopened. Inmany cases, as in a line break, it is not sullicient to merely keep the velocity down to normal, as a governor action would do,because that Would still Waste a lot of liquid. Myv valve Will stop that kind ot Waste. y n

My valve .may also be used in duplicate form, one for operations at one point in the line (as previously described) and one spaced in the line at a distance but set inthe reverse direction With the tight valve seat V(Fig. l) upstream. That is, in the secondvalve With the. valve shovvn inrFig. l turned 180 1in Vthe line and so Vthe stream iiowthrough the valve is in the opposite direction With'relation to the parts shovvn in Fig. 1. The-pipe line is thenV sectionalized between two such valves. Onevvill operate as I have already described; the other, set in open condition, Tvill have no eiiect with the stream flow in the 4normal direction; but if (for example) `a break occurs between the tvvovalves, theywill both close as a velocity'head will be directed to- Ward the breakfromboth directions, and they Will'reinain entirely closed until re-set. From the foregoing description it Will-be seen that l have provided a power operated valve operable directly from the impact of the stream line flow to open and close 'the valve and to alsoserve as an emergency stop in a power HOW. Y

'It may be desirable now andA then to operate the plunger heads by hand as When the pipe line is empty and one Wants to close or open the valve. To do this, l have provided the sector lug 33 (Figsj and 6) on the bottom of the'control cock Which may beturned y to abut one side or theother ot the sector lug i8 on the top of the spindle l0). It will be remembered that the spindle is keyed to rocker arm 5,5.- 'llhese sector lugsA are armeans, the control eoclr is turned until lug 33 engages ug a8, 1whereupon a continued turning vvill apply torce to the spindle and turn that and the rocher arm 55, for example, to open the valve hy hand. The lugs are so placed that it there are any hydraulic forces available to open the valve at the same time t ie hand operation is goingl on, they Will assist the hand ope ation. Thus When the lugs engage for opening, the control cock port has access to passage c (Fig. l) during the whole of the angular movement neces sary. This is provided for hy the cutaway portion i (Fig. ivliieh overlaps the entrance to throughout the angular movement. The same is true with respect to port f V(Fig. l) when the control cock is turned Way around to engage the lugs 33 and 48 at the opposite sides tor closing tlie valve hy hand. The hand power can thus he applied to open or close the valve, but it is never possible for the control cock to he turned hy the spindle taking its movements from the rocker arm and plunger head. In other Words, connection for movement is irreversiole, the parts being iiiterlocked to prevent any interference at any time hetween the hand and hydraulic power.

lVliat l claim is:

l. A valve construction comprising a casing withl aligned ports, a coaxial pressure cylinder having reciprocahle heads, valve seats in the aligned ports, mechanical means Wit iin said cylinder to connect said heads for the movement ot one to torce the movement of the other in the opposite direction, and cach toward or trom its adjacent valve seat, control means to direct iluid pressure to and from aid cylinoer as desired, said cylinder heads, mechanical means and valve seats all constructed and positioned so that one head may rea-eli its valve seat and make a. tight closure While the other head isstill a slight distance from its seat, whereby a cylinder pressure tending to move hotli heads to their seats may act directly on the first seated head as Well indirectly through the other unseated head and said mechanical means to constantly and tlcsihly hold the seated hea-d tight.

2. A valve construction comprising a casing having aligned inlet and outlet ports, a pressure cylinder spaced troni the casing and having rcciprocahle heads aligned With said ports, for controlling fluid passage therethrough, rocker arm mechanism Within the cvlinoer and connected with said heads so that they must move in opposite directions, a control means for admitting fluid pressure from the stream iloiv to said pressure cylindei', said means including a Pitct tuhe arrangement to apply velocity head pressure for the operation of said cylinder heads in el Y. ing the valve.

3. A valve construction comprising' a casing, a pressure cjl-.flindcr s iaced from the ca f1:- ing to Inalre an annular roam flo-Jv thr l the valve, pressure operated alve manip@- latiiig mechanism Within said casing, a control means tor said mechanism including a passage Wholly Within the Casin.nf and connecting to the stream 'flow at ditlerent pressure points and to the cylinder intermer iatc its ends, a control valve in said passage Where it leads to the cylinder and operahle to connect the cylinder through said with a Pitot tuhe inlet facing the upstream pressure of the stream iloiv or to an lxhaiisi'; outlet at the downstream end of the valve.

fl. A valve comprising a casinghaving a stream line conto-ur without and vf'itliin and but slightly larger in diameter than the pipe line :tor Which it is made to control, a cylindci Within the casing with longitudinal rihs to spa-ce it from the Walls to make annular stream passage through the valve, reciprocahle heads having oppositely disposed stream line contour faces in the opposite ends of the cylinder, mechanism Within the cylinder and connecting said heads for mutual operations in opposite directions, a fluid pressure control means tor said cylinder having` a control valve and its control passages located in one of said longitudinal rihs, all constructed and arranged to form an automatic pressure operated valve in compact forni,

5. A valve comprising a casting` to include the casing with aligned inlet and outlet ports, an interior coaxial cylinder spaced from the casing and connected hy integral longitudinal rihs, one of said rios having a radial opening at about the center of the casing and extending from the cylinder throurfh the casing for a control valve c clr and also having a small longitudinal passage vfor liv-pas` fr the valve seat at 'the downstream end o'l the valve and with an inlet port facing thc upstream end, a control coclr seated in radial opening and havingl a right angle passage operahle as a Pitot tube to admit pressure to said cylinder or exhaust it, :intl a reciprocahle head in one end of the cvlinde?l to act as a valve closure and pressure operable mechanism Within s4 la cylinder` and connected to said head, and a valve seat for said head at the downstream end oi the valve.

G. A. valve comprising integral coaxial nal aacing ivehs all in one castiie uter member serving as the valve ca. g the inner as a pressure cylinder, a radial penin through one of said Wehs to serve as the :toi a control cock` said opening having transverse ports, one facing the upstream side oi the valve and the other connecting; a lay-pass through the iveh around a valve seat at the downstream side ot the valve, a control cock in said opening having a right angle passup@ to connect said cylinder interior with upstream side of the valve through one ot' said transverse ports as a Pitot tube high pressure connection or to the other of saidportsas an exhaust low pressure connection, oppositely arranged tapered pisto-nheads in the ends of said cylinder arranged for easy reciprocablemovements, transversely varranged fulcrum means in said cylinder intermediate the piston heads, rocking lever Arneanson said fulcrum means with opposite ends connected to said piston heads .torcause the latter to have mutual movements in .opposite directions for opening and closing the'valve according to the v settingr of the control cock.

7. A valve comprising integral f coaxial cylindrical members joined'fby longitudinal spacingrrvvebs all in one casting, the outer member serving asthe valve casing and the inner as a 4pressure cylinder, a radial opening through one of said Webs to serve as the seat for a control cock, said opening having transverse ports, one facing the upstream side of the valve and the other connecting a bypass through the-Web around a valve seat at the downstream side'oi the valve, a control cock in' said opening having aright angle passage *to Vconnect said cylinder vinterior with theupstream side of the valve through one of said ltransverse ports as a Pitot tube high pressure connection Lor tothe other of said ports as an exhaust loW pressure" con-` nection, oppositely arranged taperedzpiston heads .in the ends of said cylinder arranged for easy reciprocable movements, transverse; ly arranged'fulcrum means in 4said cylinder intermediateithe piston heads, rocking lever means .on sa-idtfulcrum meansvvith opposite' ends connected to said piston heads to cause the latter :tolave mutual movements 1n opposite .directions .for opening and closing the valve according. to V,the setting .of the controlv cock, andineansxoperable from Without the casing to Vrock said Alever means oropening.

and closing said valve.

18. A valve comprising 'integral coaxial cylindricalmembersjoinedhy longitudinal `transverse ports as a Pitot `tube high'pressure connection or to the other of said `ports as :an exhaust low pressure connection, oppositely .arrangedxtapered piston heads .in the ends of said lcylinder arranged for `easy reciprocable movements, transversely arranged fulcrummeans in said cylinder intermediate the piston heads, rocking lever means on said f-u'lcrum 'meansv with opposite ends `connectedV to said piston heads .to cause the latterv to have mutual: movements in4 opposite direc tions `for openingand closing :the valve according to the setting of the control cock, and mechanica-l means operable Jfrom Withf out the casing to rock said lever means only when said control cock is set to exclude pressure from the. .stream flow to the interior of the 4pressure Icylinder.v v v i 9. An automatic pressure .operable valve having a pressure cylinder Vvvith reciprocable piston heads and means tooperate them `or openingaand lclosing-theV valve, a valveseat with Whichnoneof said piston heads mates toV make a tight-closure, the other piston head being always. free to 'move `:after the irst piston head has made contact with itsxvalve seat, mechanical connections between said pistonheadsto cause mutual. movements in opposite directions, all .constructed and arranged for the forces tending to move either `pistonhead to vclosed position to ,be finally applied Aon that one in contact with the valve seat to tighten its sealing; pressure.Vv Y e f 10A,packless valve comprising a casing having aligned inlet andoutlet ports, a pressure .cylinder Within the casing having outs wardly :tapered piston heads mechanically Y connected 'for opposite `axial movements, a valve seat at the outlet port for :making a tight closure` 1Withcne of the piston heads, pressure inlet and `outlet ports yfrom the stream line flow passage to said pressure cylnder, a small cock valve :having a ground seat adjacent the ,outervvall `of the valve casing for controlling all said pressure inlet `and outlet ports -forthe cylinder,- the lstem of said cock ,val-ve being operable from Without the casing for permitting angular movement .of the cock' valve-whereby the control may be set independently .of thesizeaor: pressures Within the/casing, .by small angular movements ofthe cockpaloneor the complete` normalmovements of the piston heads under stream line pressure tolopen or close the main valvef A r u 11.` A-va1vecomprising a casing and: a spaced pressure cylinder "in coaxialalign ment, oppositely tapered pistonvheads in the cylinder,` mechanical v Vmeans connecting the piston heads lso the Amovement' ;of one forces lthe movement of the other in the oppositexdirection, said :cylinder having only a single radial openingxthroughits .vva'llsfor communicating `With passages'v in the casing leading to relatively -high and low pressure regions in the streamflow passage through the Acasing and a control cock located adjacent the outer Wall of the valve casing with ports to control Which vof said pressure fregions shalldominate the pressure inthe cylinder, thestemof said control cock beingioperable from Without the` casing.

v 12. fA pressure operable valve comprising a Vic casing and apressure cylinder,piston heads in the ends of said cylinder, a pivoted rocker arm in the cylinder With each end connected to one of the piston heads adjacent the cylinder Wall whereby the movement of one head Will rock the arm and thereby move the other head in the opposite direction, vmeans to apply pressure Within said cylinder to operate the pistons While the latter are eXteriorly subjected to the pressures of the stream lme flow. Y 13. An automatic valve operable from the pressure of its controlled stream flow comprising a casing having aligned ports, .a coaxial ressure cylinder having oppositely arrangeld and movable tapered plunger heads, each adapted for cooperation With its ad]acent port to diminish or increase the flovv, mechanism in the pressure cylinder to Aconstrain the movements of the plunger heads in opposite' directions, a control passage through the valve for a partial flow, means controlled from Without the casing to divert a pressure effect of said partial iiovv to and from said pressure cylinder, said control vpassage being arranged for the movement of at lea-st `one of 'said plunger heads to automatically diminish or' increaseits potential flow as said'head moves tovvard and from its adj acent port Vand independently of the before mentioned means controlled from Without the casing. p

14. An automatic pressure operable valve having apressurecylinder With reciprocable piston heads and means to operate them for opening and' closing the valve, a valve seat with which one of said piston heads mates to make a tight closure, the other piston head beingalways free to move after-the first piston head has made contact with its valve seat, mechanical connections between said piston heads to cause mutual movements in opposite directions, said operating means including a passage through thevalve for` a partial flow and 4control means for the latter to apply its pressure effect in the pressure cylinder to affect the operation of the piston heads, said partial flovv passage being located soas to have its potential lflow progressively diminished or increased by the automatic movej, ments of at least one of said piston heads.

' 15. A ipe valve comprising mechanism operable y pressure at either side of the valve, means movable by said mechanism to vary the opening through the valve, means to admit pipe line pressure to operate said mechanism from either side of the valve, means to apply said pressure arranged to function automatically under the sole control of the pipe line pressure, said last mentioned means including a passage for a partial flovv through the valve, the pressure effect of which may be progressively increased or diminished and applied to said mechanism by the movement of the mechanism itself.

16. A pipe valvewcomprising mechanism operable byY pressure at either side of the valve, means movable by said mechanism to vary the opening through the valve, means to admit pipe line pressure to operate said lnechanism from either side of the valve, means to apply saidpressure arranged to function automatically under the sole control of the pipe line pressure, said last mentioned means including. a passage for a partial fioW through the valve, the pressure effect of Which may be progressively increased or di minished and applied to said mechanism by the movement of the mechanism itself as it respectively opens orl closes the valve.

17. A pipe valve comprising mechanism 8 operable by pressure at either side of the valve, means movable by saidV mechanism to vary the opening through the valve, means to admit pipe line pressure to operate said mechanism from either side of the valve, 8 means to apply said pressure arranged to function automatically under the sole control of the pipe line pressure, said last mentioned means including a passage for a partial {iovv through the valve, the pressure effect 9 of Which may be progressively increased or diminished and applied to said mechanism by the movement of the mechanism itself as it respectively opens or closes the valve, all arranged for a degree of opening or closing 9 movement of the valve dependent entirely upon the pressure conditions in the controlled stream line.

18. A stream line valve comprising a casing and two oppositely arranged tapered 1 plungers in line with the stream flow and arranged to form the heads of a common pressure `chamber around Which Athe stream can flow to vary the pressure values on the eX- terior faces of the plungers in proportion to l the velocity of the flow, mechanism connecting the plungers to cause them to move together but in opposite directions upon the movement of either one, means to establish a static pressure Within said common pressure chamber from the forcesof the iiovv or tendency to How in the stream line, said means including an opening to the pressure chamber intermediate the ends of the plunger, a control for said opening whereby the latter l may be put into communication With the forces of the flow on either the high pressure or low pressure sides of the valveV to thereby determine Which pressure region shall have the dominating effect on the static pressure 1 Within said pressure chamber, the Whole valve mechanism being arranged as stated, to cause movement of said plungers by the unbalanced pressures on their interior and exterior faces, said plungers presenting a 1 solid Wall Without openings therethrough for the pressure contact with the stream line iovv.

19. In a valve of the general class described Which comprises, a casing, a pressure 130 cylinder having at its opposite ends two stream lined plunger heads each with a continuous unbroken tapered surface, one head pointed to the inlet and the other to the outlet port and positioned for the velocity of the stream How or tendency to How, to establish different pressure Valves on the exterior surfaces of the plungers, means connecting the plungers to cause-any movement of one to be followed by the movement of the other in an opposite direction, means to admit selectively any one of various pipeline pressures from different points in the main stream to the interior of the pressure cylinder, including a point between the plunger heads and a point beyond the outlet port, said means` being selectively adjustable to various positions corresponding to a predetermined combined effect of the stream forces acting on said nterlocked plungers with their interior surfaces subjected -to one pres-V sure Value for both, and their exterior surfaces subjected to a different pressure value due to the main stream flow, ortendency to flow, past the said oppositely arranged piston heads. p

In testimony whereof I have aiixed my signature. j l

RUDOLPH WELCKER. 

